Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ARCC vs BLK
Ares Capital Corporation versus BlackRock, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BLK wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ARCC | BLK | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 10.31% | 2.13% | ARCC wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.8/10 | 8.3/10 | BLK wins |
| Growth trend | +1.31% vs 5y | -0.20% vs 5y | BLK wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.62 | 1.46 | ARCC wins |
| Scale | $13.0B | $167.2B | BLK wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | BLK wins |
Dimension by dimension
ARCC wins on yield (10.31% vs 2.13%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $818 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BLK wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 3.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BLK scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
BLK shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BLK's yield is 0.20% below its 5y average, versus 1.31% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
ARCC is less volatile (beta 0.62 vs 1.46)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
BLK is 12.9× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better, ARCC or BLK?
BLK wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does ARCC or BLK have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $818 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ARCC or BLK a safer dividend?
ARCC scores 3.8/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. BLK scores 8.3/10 (Strong). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both ARCC and BLK?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own ARCC or BLK? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding BLK to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →